Homeless Holiday Literacy Party

The Friends of Reverend Rhonda “Akanke” McLean-Nur seek to raise funds to help support The Cultural Arts and Literacy Holiday Extravaganza - a holiday party for families living in temporary housing.  




This will be our 19th consecutive year of launching this annual Holiday event. We look forward to raising a sizable budget this year to give this important Holiday effort the financial boost it deserves.



Formerly under the umbrella of Healing Arts Initiative, also known as “HAI”, Reverend Rhonda "Akanke" McLean-Nur,  Program Director in the Department of of Education  has spearheaded this all-inclusive, inter-denominational Holiday Dinner Party with the ongoing support of HAI staff and community volunteers.




The annual party services from 200 to 300 individuals from shelter families throughout the different boroughs in the New York City area with the focus on literacy, self-empowerment and change. 
 

The vision of Reverend Rhonda "Akanke" McLean-Nur, the Cultural Arts and Literacy Holiday Extravaganza not only offers homeless families a chance to relish in the excitement of the season with gifts and food but most significantly, it features unique activities, gift giveaways and cultural experiences that inspire hope and empower participants to change their lives.
 

The first event was held in December, 1996, and was hosted by Rawkus Records, Tommy Hilfiger, Howie McDuffie, MosDef and TalibKweli.
 

Each year, volunteers help weeks before to collect and wrap gifts and clothing donated by vendors all across the tri-state area.




Over the past eighteen years, Rev. Rhonda and her volunteers have relied on friends, word of mouth and walking the streets to get charitable donations and support from businesses. 



In years past, there has been generous financial and organizational support from businesses such as The Broad Street Ballroom, The Hard Rock Café, The Alhambra Ballroom, The Davenport Country Club and the Consulate General of the Czech Republic Embassy. 


In years past we have recieved generous donations from businesses such as The Gap, Disney, Toys For Tots, Sisters Restaurants, Shake Shack, Scholastic, Old Navy, Steve Madden, Sephora, KB Toys, Wholesale Liquidators, Body Works, Claire’s Accessories, Moshood, MZ Wallace, Time Warner, Arista Records, Source Magazine, Penguin Books, Sony Music, WBLS, Chelsea Piers and  Duke Café, Carvel, Papa John's Pizza, Manna’s Soul Food Restaurants, Barbara Lowenstein and Company, Urbanovich, Georgetown Cupcakes, JC Penny, AMC Movie Theaters, D&D Deli,  the Actors Fund, Simon and Shuster Books, Starbright Books, Triple Five Soul, Ap Graphics. 



Families enter escorted by volunteers and the professional staff to dining tables formally set for their formal holiday meal. 



The program opens with live music, dance and motivational speakers. Children are then escorted to tables filled with books and craft tables where they make and create holiday cards and jewelry.


The day is filled with performances by master storytellers, magicians and guest artists. Other activities include face painting, the book fair, the all ages dance contest and Holiday photos with Santa.


At the end of each celebration is the holiday tree and the secret Santa’s Wonderland,  where the entire family receives a bag of gifts for each member. 


Many of you have helped support this important event for New York City’s homeless families in years past.  You donated and wrapped gifts, gave money, served food or perhaps even sung or performed a story.  This year we need to raise funds to produce a bigger and even better event.


Please take a moment and donate today to the Cultural Arts and Literacy Holiday Extravaganza and make a difference in the life of someone who is less fortunate.
 
For those of you that prefer to donate by check or bank money order, please make your donations payable to Blackberry Productions.  The mailing address for your donation is Blackberry Productions, c/o Berry,  640  West 153rd Street,  Suite C-1,  New York, New York  10031

 

The Friends of Akanke would like to thank you in advance for contributing to this worthwhile community event!


Thank you from the annual Volunteer Committee that includes Stephanie Berry, Kisha Spence, Benja Kay Thomas, Daniel Carlton, Nambi Kelly, Elena Rios, David Deblinger, John-Martin Green, Jill Featherstone, Kathryn Bentley, Ulli Fenniger, Monica Iken, Janice Marie Robinson, Bruce Hawkins, Rachael Robinson and Sabrina Jefferies.